Edge board printed circuit type connector



y 9, 1964 G. w. DEAN 3,133,780

EDGE BOARD PRINTED CIRCUIT TYPE CONNECTOR Filed Feb. 15, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR 60200 m DEHN firramvsys.

May 19, 1964 s. w. DEAN EDGE BOARD PRINTED CIRCUIT TYPE CONNECTOR Filed Feb. 15, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Gaeoou W: DEHN flrrQQn/EYS.

IIIAIII/II III/11111070.

United States Patent 3,133,780 7 EDGE BQARD PRINTED CIRCUIT TYPE CGNNECTOR Gordon W. Dean, Alhambra, Calif, assignor to Cannon Electric Company, Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California Filed Feb. 15, 1961, Ser. No. 89,485 4 Claims. (Cl. 339--258) This invention relates to electrical or electronic devices and more particularly to edge board printed circuit type connectors that are to be used with printed circuit type boards, cards or panels.

Heretofore, edge board printed circuit type connectors have included therein contacts or terminals generally described as the bellows type. This type of terminal is usually fabricated from an elongated ribbon of elecelectrically conducting material and through a series of relatively expensive operations the elongated piece of material is folded or bent into a shape that will give it the desired spring characteristics and enable it to be inserted into an insulator body. A pair of bellows type terminals located within an insulator body are adapted to receive and to make contact with the terminal strips located on a printed circuit card or board. A disadvantage of the bellows type terminal, which is located within an insulator body, is that sometimes there is no positive locking or engaging of the terminal therein, or if there is, the means for retaining the terminal within the insulator is usually of a permanent nature so as to make removal of the terminal for replacement or revising circuitry difficult if not impossible, and damage to the terminal connector is extremely likely in the event removal is required.

It is an object of this invention to provide an edge board printed circuit type connector that includes therein a connector terminal that is formed from a suitable sheet of metal by simple blank and form operations rather than the folding operations required to make a bellows type contact.

'Another object of this invention is to provide a device of the character described having included therein a connector terminal with a latching finger thereon that engages a latchingshoulder that is an integral portion of an insulator body. 7

A still further object of this invention is to provide in a device of the character described a connector terminal having structure thereon which pivots about a pair of pivot points in such a manner as to enable the structure to rock back and forth in order to adapt itself to and make a firm and positive contact with terminal strip of a printed circuit card or board which is inserted into contacting engagement with the structure.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device of the character described wherein leg portions of the terminal form a positive resilient locking engagement with an insulator body and resist removal of the connector terminal from the insulator body until such time as it is considered necessary.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a unit composed of an insulator body and connector terminal wherein the connector terminal may be readily removed from the insulator body without suffering any damage or breakage and may be readily reinserted into the body.

A more specific object of this invention is to provide a device of the character described which includes a connector terminal having a reinforced body with a relatively rigid right angle folded side thereon; the side extending forwardly from the body and having a relatively fiat leg connected thereto at a point remote from the body; and the leg having a folded contact surface con 3,133,780 Patented May 19, 1964 nected thereto at a point adjacent to the body to form 7 two points of pivoting for the contact surface and provide a double folded spring typeaction.

A further specific object of this invention is to provide a device of the character described wherein the insulator body has a divisional panel or wall integral therewith which divides a single compartment into two and enables the use of a pair of connector terminals in a single insulator body compartment.

A yet further specific'object of this invention is to provide a pair of connector terminals that are connected to each other by insulating structure and therefore are electrically insulated but may be considered a single integral unit.

Another object of this inventionisto provide an edge board printed. circuit type connector that includes a compartmented insulator body and connector terminals that are inserted into the compartments of the body, each terminal having structure thereon and cam faces on said structure that engage the insulator body in such a manner as to urge the structure into a spring biasing condition during insertion of the terminal, which enables the structure to snap into a latched position when fully inserted so as to lock the connector terminal within said insulator body. 1

Further objects and advantages of this invention will appear during the course of the following part of this specification, wherein the details of construction and mode of operation of a preferred embodiment are described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a-perspective view illustrating and having embodied therein the present invention.

FIGURE 2' is an enlarged view of the forward edge of the insulator body illustrated in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged rear view illustrating the insulator body.

- FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the unit which includes an insulator body and a contact terminal located therein.

FIGURES is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken on line 55 of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary, enlarged cross-sectional View taken on line 66 of FIGURE 2, with a terminal operatively positioned in the insulator.

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view illustrating a contact terminal according to this invention.

FIGURE 8 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an insulator body and having located therein a pair of terminals separated by an insulating panel and having inserted between the connector terminals a printed circuit card or board.

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken on line 9 9 of FIGURE 8.

FIGURE 10 is a cross-sectional view illustrating another form of the invention. which includes an insulator body having a pair of connector terminals located therein which are unified by an insulating member.

FIGURE 11 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken on line 11-11 of FIGURE 10.

Referring to the drawings for amore detailed description of the present invention, 10 designates a printed circuit card or board having terminal conductor strips 12 thereon. Associated with board 10 is an edge board printed circuit type connector unit which includes an insulator body, broadly designated 14, and a plurality of connector terminals, broadly designated 16.

The insulator body 14 has forward and rear edges 15 and 17, respectively, and is fabricated of an electrically non-conducting or insulating material such as plastic, hard rubber or the like. Integral with each end of the body 14 is a tab 26. Located in each tab or projection 26 is a fastener-receiving opening 28. The sides of insulator body 14 are defined by a pair of generally flat, parallel side walls 34.

The insulator body 14 has a plurality of parallel compartments 30 which are open at the rear edge of the insulator for receiving respective terminals 16, and extend forwardly to a forward wall 36 of the insulator body 14. A pair of relatively small spaced-apart openings 32 extend through forward wall 36 into communication with each compartment 30 adjacent the respective side walls 34. The body 14 has an elongated slot 33 formed therein between the small openings 32 and in parallel rela tionship with side walls 34. The slot 33 extends rearwardly a substantial distance into insulator body 14 so as to provide receptacle means for receiving the mating edge board therein, the slot 33 being in direct communication with compartments from forward wall 36 all of the way back to the rear or bottom 35 of slot 33 so that the contacting portions of the terminals 16 may project into slot 33 for mating with conductor strips 12 of board 10.

Forward wall 36 of insulator body 14, which defines the opening of slot 33, is beveled at 38 in order to provide a guide for the insertion of the printed circuit card on board 10 into the slot.

Located within each compartment 30 and integral with each wall or panel 37 which divides each compartment, one from another, is a beveled shoulder 40. Each end wall 42 of the body 14 has a beveled shoulder 44 similar to beveled shoulders 40. The beveled shoulders and 44 function as guides for centrally locating the terminal 16 within the compartment when the connector terminal is inserted therein.

Also located in each compartment 30 and on each side wall 34 of insulator body 14, and adjacent each opening 32 but spaced rearwardly from the forward wall 36, is a forwardly facing right angle shoulder 46.

The terminal 16 includes a relatively fiat body 18, best shown in FIGURES 4 and 7, having extending rearwardly therefrom a pair of wrap-around crimp type wire connections 20. These crimp connections incorporate therein small tines 22 that have as their function the piercing of the insulation around electrical wire leads 24 if so desired and penetrate the wire so as to hold the wire securely and provide good electrical connection. It is to be understood, however, that other means may be provided on the rear ends of the terminals for effecting connection of wire leads 24 to the respective terminals, as for example solder cups formed on the rear ends of the terminals.

The generally elongated, flat body 18 of the connector terminal 16 is made relatively rigid by a pair of right angle folds at each side thereof. The folded sides 48 extend forwardly from the body 18 in the manner best illustrated in the perspective view of FIGURE 7. Integrally connected at 49 to the forward end of each side 48 is a leg or web 50. Leg or web 50 is substantially flat and in substantially the same plane as body 18. Also, leg or web 50 extends back rearwardly toward the body 18, but the free rear end thereof, i.e., that end remote from the connection 49 between the leg 50 and side 48, is not connected to body 18. Integrally connected to each leg 50 at its rear end 51 adjacent body 18 is a contact finger 52. Like sides 48, contact fingers 52 are folded or bent at right angles to the body 18. Also, contact fingers 52 are substantially parallel with legs 50 and sides 48, and hence are generally parallel to each other. The forward or free end 53 of each contact finger 52 is bent outwardly toward the corresponding leg 50 to provide a guide or lead-in for insertion of the printed circuit board 10. It is to be noted that each leg 50 is spaced from the sides 48 except at the point of connection and pivot 49 and the contact surfaces 52 are also spaced from legs 50 except at the point of connection and pivot 51.

Integral with each leg 50 at its forward end is a protruding latching projection 54 that snaps in front of the ledge or shoulder 46 when the terminal is pushed into its forwardmost position in compartment 30.

Formed on each projection 54 is a cam edge 56 that engages each corresponding side wall 34 of the insulator when the connector terminal 16 is inserted into the compartment 39 through the open end thereof so as to spring the terminal sides 48 inwardly until projections 54 snap out in front of shoulders 46.

The arrangement of the sides 48, legs 50, and contact fingers 52 produces, in effect, a long or elongated double return spring action. The pivoting connection between contact finger 52 and leg 54 and the pivoting connection between leg 54 and side 48 produces two points of pivot for each of the contact fingers so that the latter will adjust to a spring-biased fiat surface engagement with the printed circuit board 10. By this means, the two points of pivot enable the contact finger 52 to rock back and forth in order that a complete surface contact can be made between the contact fingers 52 and the terminal strips 12 that are an integral part of the printed circuit card or board 10.

During the forming of the connector terminal 16 and after the contact fingers 52 have been turned at right angle to the body 18, the space between the contact surfaces exceeds the thickness of the printed circuit card or board. The contact surfaces are brought closer together by providing a longitudinal V-shaped fold 58 in the body 18 along the lateral center line thereof, this told 58 not only bringing the contact surfaces together but increasing the rigidity and strength of the body 18.

In the case of the connector terminal 16 illustrated in FIGURE 7, the legs 50, as well as the sides 48, still have a dimension that is greater than the Width of the open end of compartment 30. Therefore, when the connector terminal 16 is inserted into compartment 30, the cam edges 56 on legs 50 engage the corresponding wall 34 in order to urge the contact surfaces toward each other and thus the legs 50 become spring loaded. The connector terminal is urged into compartment 30 until the protruding fingers 54 snap outwardly behind with latching shoulder 46, in the manner illustrated in FIGURES 4 and 10, resulting in locking of the connector terminal 16 within the compartment 30. The forwardmost position of the terminals in the insulator is defined by engagement of the forward end portions of the terminals against the forward wall 36. It is to be noted that in the forwardmost, locked positions of the terminals within the insulator body, the entire contact finger portions 52 of the terminals are exposed within the circuit board-receiving slot 33 of the insulator, the board 10 being insertable within the slot 33 to a position in which its leading edge is rearward of the contact fingers 52. In this manner, the entire flat contacting surfaces of fingers 52 may engage respective conductor strips on the circuit board 10.

In order to remove a terminal 16 from its compartment 30 in the insulator body for repair or replacement, or for adapting the connector to a new circuit arrangement, all that is required is to push suitable tool pin members (not shown) through the respective small holes 32 from the forward edge of the insulator, such pin members engaging cam edges 56 of the terminal so as to cam the latching projections 54 inwardly out of the way of shoulders 46, permitting the terminal to be withdrawn rearwardly from the insulator.

Attention is directed to FIGURE 8 and that form of the invention illustrated therein. The insulator body 14 shown in FIGURE 8 is identical to the body illustrated in FIGURES 1 to 6, inclusive, with the exception that each compartment has a divisional panel 60 therein which divides each compartment into a pair of separated chambers 62. Each connector terminal broadly designated 64 inserted into each chamber 62 is substantially one-half of the connector terminal illustrated in FIGURE 7. The body 66 of each connector terminal is substantially fiat and need not include the longitudinal fold along the lateral center line. In all other respects each pair of connector terminals 64 is identical to a connector terminal 16.

The divisional panel 6%, like the body 14, is fabricated of an electrically insulating material and may be molded as an integral part of body 14, and therefore connector terminals 64, inserted into chambers 62, are electrically insulated from each other. The protruding latching projections 54 on connector terminals 64 engage the latching shoulders 46 for releasably locking terminals 64 within the chambers 62,.

FIGURE illustrates another form of the invention wherein the insulator body 1 is identical to the insulator body illustrated in FIGURES 1 to 6 inclusive. The conector terminals illustrated in FIGURE 10 are identical to the connector terminals 64 illustrated in FIGURE 8. However, the bodies 66 of each connector terminal 64 illustrated in FIGURE 10 are connected together by an H- shaped fastener 68 into which a portion or" each body 66 is fitted in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 11. If desired, the terminal body portions may be removably slid able between the legs of the H-shaped fastener. The fastener 68 is fabricated of electrically insulating material and therefore each connector terminal located in compartment 3% is electrically insulated from the other connector terminal.

The connector terminals illustrated in FIGURE 10 function in the same manner as the connector terminal 16 illustrated in FIGURE 7. In other words, the legs 56) and protruding fingers 54 of the connector terminals illustrated in FIGURE 10 are wider than the opening of compartment 3%. As a result the cam edges as on each leg engages the walls 34 to urge the contact surfaces toward each other which again in effect spring loads the legs, and when the protruding fingers 5d reach the area of the latching shoulders 46 engagement therewith is made to loclr the connector terminals within compartment 3b.

The connector terminals may be fabricated of any suitable resilient electrically conducting material, as, for example, beryllium copper, bronze, brass, silver alloys or the like, and may, if desired, be plated for optimum electrical characteristics.

While I have herein shown and described my invention in what I have conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom Within the scope of my invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein, but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A connector terminal comprising a substantially flat body; electrical lead gripping means on and extending from said body; an elongated, resilient member on and extending from the body in a direction opposed to said gripping means; said member being substantially flat and being bent at substantially right angles to the body; an elongated flat structure resiliently connected to said member at a point remote from said body and extending to Ward said body and being substantially co-planar with said body; a resilient electrical contact finger connected to said structure adjacent said body and remote from the connection of said structure to said member and extending away from the body, whereby a double return spring is produced between said member, structure and contact finger; said contact finger being substantially fiat and being bent at substantially right angles to the body.

2. An electrical connector comprising a generally fiat body having electrical conductor termination means thereon, an elongated contact element extending forwardly from the body, and means mounting the contact element on the body comprising an elongated base arm afiixed to and extending forwardly from said body, and an elongated, substantially fiat return arm connected to said base arm proximate its forward end and extending rearwardly toward said body and substantially coplanar with said body, said base arm at least proximate its connection with said return arm being substantially flat and resilient and bent at substantially a right angle to the body, the contact element and return arm being connected proximate their rear ends, said base arm, return arm and contact element being spaced apart except at the regions of connection with the return arm lying between the base arm and contact element, and said contact element being substantially flat and resilient substantially throughout its length and being bent at substantially a right angle to the body.

3. An electrical connector comprising a terminal element, an elongated contact element extending forwardly from the terminal element, and means mounting the contact element on the terminal element comprising an elongated base arm afiixed to and extending forwardly from said terminal element, and an elongated return arm connected to said base arm proximate its forward end and extending rearwardly toward said terminal element, the contact element and return arm being connected proximate their rear ends, said base arm, return arm and contact element being spaced apart except at the region of connection with the return arm lying between the base arm and contact element, said return arm being substantially rigid in the general median plane defined by said base arm and said contact element, said contact element being substantially fiat with its plane oriented at substantially a right angle to said general plane, and said return arm being substantially flat with its plane oriented at substantially a right angle to said plane of the contact element, the contact element being resilient in said general plane substantially throughout its length and the connection between said arms being resilient in said general plane to provide a floating action of said contact element in said general plane.

4. An electrical connector as defined in claim 3 wherein said base arm is substantially fiat with its plane oriented at substantially a right angle to said general plane, said base arm being resilient in said general plane at least in the region of the connection between said arms.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,762,026 Knohl Sept. 4, 1956 2,853,689 Jackson et a1 Sept. 23, 1958 2,875,425 Gilbert Feb. 24, 1959 2,937,357 Kennedy May 17, 1960 

1. A CONNECTOR TERMINAL COMPRISING A SUBSTANTIALLY FLAT BODY; ELECTRICAL LEAD GRIPPING MEANS ON AND EXTENDING FROM SAID BODY; AN ELONGATED, RESILIENT MEMBER ON AND EXTENDING FROM THE BODY IN A DIRECTION OPPOSED TO SAID GRIPPING MEANS; SAID MEMBER BEING SUBSTANTIALLY FLAT AND BEING BENT AT SUBSTANTIALLY RIGHT ANGLES TO THE BODY; AN ELONGATED FLAT STRUCTURE RESILIENTLY CONNECTED TO SAID MEMBER AT A POINT REMOTE FROM SAID BODY AND EXTENDING TOWARD SAID BODY AND BEING SUBSTANTIALLY CO-PLANAR WITH SAID BODY; A RESILIENT ELECTRICAL CONTACT FINGER CONNECTED TO SAID 